Will RCB Be Sold Days After Winning IPL 2025?

Royal Challengers Bengaluru (RCB), one of the most popular teams in the Indian Premier League (IPL), could soon have new owners. Just a week after lifting their first IPL trophy in 2025, the franchise is reportedly putting up an ‘Open for Sale’ board for either partial or complete ownership.
As per the sources, RCB’s current owners, Diageo Plc, are exploring options to sell their stake. Diageo owns RCB through its Indian company, United Spirits Ltd. Talks are already going on with possible investors.

RCB’s victory in IPL 2025 ended an 18-year-long trophy drought. The team had never won the IPL before, despite having a strong fan base and renowned players like Virat Kohli. Their first title win has made the brand even stronger, which is why Diageo feels this might be the right time to monetise the franchise.

Will RCB Be Sold?

Will RCB be sold after winning the IPL 2025 title? The question is going around in the minds of fans of the franchise. According to reports, British liquor giant Diageo is open to selling either a part of RCB or the full franchise. They are speaking to financial advisors to handle the sale process. Although there is no official confirmation yet, Bloomberg has reported that Diageo could ask for a price as high as USD 2 billion (around INR 16,800 crore) for a full sale.

The news of RCB sale had an impact on the stock market, too. After reports of the possible sale came out, shares of United Spirits Ltd jumped by up to 3.3% on Tuesday, June 10 morning. However, sources also say that the final decision has not yet been made. Diageo is still evaluating whether to go ahead with the sale or not.

Even though RCB won the title, a sad incident followed. During the celebrations at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru, 11 fans lost their lives in a stampede. The unfortunate accident happened during a crowd rush at the gates. This tragic event deeply affected the mood of the celebrations.

Notably, RCB was launched in 2008 when the IPL began. The franchise was originally bought by Vijay Mallya, a big name in India’s liquor and airline industries at that time. But over the years, Mallya’s business empire collapsed under heavy debt. This gave Diageo a chance to take over United Spirits Ltd and, through that, the ownership of Royal Challengers Bengaluru.

Who Will Be the RCB New Owner?

There are several candidates for the position of the RCB new owner. A no. of business conglomerates are interested in buying an IPL franchise. Here are three potential buyers who could become the new owners of RCB ahead of IPL 2026:

Adani Group

The Adani Group is one of India’s largest business groups. It has interests in ports, power, airports, and green energy. Headed by Gautam Adani, the group has grown rapidly in recent years. Adani has been trying to enter the IPL for a long time. The group also owns teams in other sports leagues in India.

The Glazer Family

The Glazer family owns the famous football club Manchester United in England. They are based in the USA and have wide experience in running sports businesses. They had earlier shown interest in buying an IPL team in 2022 but lost to Sanjiv Goenka’s RPSG Group, which bought the Lucknow Super Giants (LSG) franchise. The Glazers may now see RCB as a fresh opportunity to enter the IPL.

Uday Kotak of Kotak Group

Though not confirmed, sources suggest that Indian banker Uday Kotak or his group could also be interested. Kotak Mahindra Bank is one of the top financial institutions in India. A deal with a trusted and home-grown business group could appeal to fans who want Indian ownership to continue.

RCB’s future ownership is still unclear. Diageo has not made an official statement. But one thing is clear: RCB’s value is at an all-time high. After finally becoming IPL champions, the team is more attractive than ever for new investors.
Fans will now wait to see what the future holds for their beloved franchise. Will RCB continue under Diageo, or will new owners take charge in IPL 2026? Only time will tell.